Door locking system



Sept. 16, 1969 DEIBEL ETAL 3,466,905

DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 23, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 m F1 2 INVENTOR RAYMOND A. DE/BEL WILLIAM C. lZ/ESTER AND HOBART u/zoss/zmm f/W 12W ATTORNEY.

Sept. 16, 1969 DElBEL ETAL.

DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 23, 1966 m J I ARE m OBER T TE N mfsw R V MR m mAM D T A M W A muw A MW KW Y B sept. 16, 1969 R DE|BEL ET AL 3,466,905

DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 23. 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 @m INVENTOR.

RAYMOND A. DE/BEL, BY WILLIAM C. R/ESTER AND HOBAETVROBERTS JR ATTORNEY- p 6 1969 R. A. DEIBEL ET AL 3,466,905

DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 23. 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. RAYMOND A. 0515a,

WILLIAM 02/557512 AND HOBART V- ROB ERB JR.

A TTORNEY.

United States Patent Filed Sept. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 581,569

Int. c1. E05b 65/36, 65/38, 65/42 US. Cl. 70-254 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A door locking system for a motor vehicle utilizing vacuum generated by the engine to operate servo units to automatically actuate the locking mechanism and to simultaneously disable the inner mannual unlatching mech anism utilized in conjunction with a manual remote control and a conventional door lock manual operator. Valving responsive to placing the vehicle in motion by movement of the gear shift lever or to a motion sensing valve activates the automatic locking system by porting vacuum through a central distributor valve to servo units at each door. The inner release lever assembly is formed of two levers pivotally connected. When pinned together for conjoint operation, the inner manual unlatching mechanism is operative. When the two levers are disengaged, the inner manual unlatching mechanism is disabled. In one embodiment the servo unit operates both the locking lever and the lever engaging pin through a two part lost motion connected operating rod. In another embodiment, a secondary servo unit actuated only during an automatic locking operation operates the lever engaging pin while the primary servo unit actuates the locking lever. A third embodiment similar to the first mentioned embodiment em ploys a solenoid actuated two part operating rod.

The present invention relates to an automatic door locking system for motor vehicles and, more particularly, to an improved combination of a door latch and servo assembly for use in conjunction with automatic door lock ing systems.

At the present time serious effort is being made to improve safety features on motor vehicles. One of the hazards in present day automobiles is the possibility of accidentally unlatching the doors while the vehicle is in motion. This is a particular danger when young children are being transported, but is also a hazard to adults. The' present invention overcomes this hazard by providing an automatic door locking system in which the inner door latch operator is automatically disabled incidental to placing the Vehicle in motion. This is accomplished without special thought or action on the part of the vehicle operator or any of the passengers.

Another hazard is the possibility of doors flying open upon impact in a collision, permitting the passengers to be thrown from the vehicle. Another feature of the present invention results in simultaneous locking of the vehicle doors from the outside at the same time that the inner door latch actuators are disabled. This feature also protects against instrusion since the doors remain locked even after the inner latch actuators are reactivated incidental to stopping of the vehicle.

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To prevent passengers from being trapped in an automobile after a collision and also for the convenience of the vehicle operator when picking up passengers, remote manual actuation of all of the door locks for the purpose of unlocking the doors is provided with the same servo assemblies that are utilized to disable and to lock the doors.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved door locking system in which the inner manual latch operating mechanism is disabled incidental to placing the vehicle in motion.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic door lock system for motor vehicles in which the inner manual door latch actuating mechanism is disabled and simultaneously the latch lock mechanism is locked to prevent undesired door opening from either inside or outside of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic door locking system in which the inner door latch operating mechanism is disabled incidental to placing the vehicle in motion and, at the same time, the latch locks are locked and wherein the inner latch operating mechanism is reactivated incidental to stopping of the vehicle.

A still further and more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved door locking system for motor vehicles in which the inner latch lock mechanism is disabled and the latch lock mechanism is locked incidental to placing the vehicle in motion and in which the inner latch lock mechanism is reactivated while the lock mechanism remains in locked position incidental to stopping of the vehicle and in which a remote unlocking means is provided.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an auto motive vehicle having the door locking system of the present invention incorporated therein;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of one type of servo unit utilized with this invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one type of servo assembly incorporated in the latch lock mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a secondary servo unit of this invention incorporated in latch lock mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a view of a latch lock structure incorporating a servo assembly which may be utilized with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of a latch lock mechanism comprising another form of servo assembly which may be used with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a system similar to FIG. 5 utilizing electrical power.

Briefly, the invention comprises a latch lock mechanism of the type in which a manual push button actuator is provided to mechanically lock the latch. In this type of latch the latch remains locked until such time as the button is moved to the unlocking position. An interior manual latch actuator is provided which is capable of unlatching as well as unlocking the latch. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, the internal manual actuator may be of the type which remains locked until the push button is moved to the unlocked position.

A servo assembly is integrally associated with the latch lock mechanism and may be powered either pneumatically or electrically from either the manifold vacuum system, a compressed air system, or an electrical system in the motor vehicle. A two piece inner latch release lever is provided, the secondary latch release lever portion being pivotally mounted with respect to the primary portion of the lever. The primary portion of the release lever is operated by the inner manual actuator. The servo assembly, when unenergized, connects the two sections of the two piece lever together to effect movement of the two piece lever as a unit. Thus, upon manual actuation, the latch may be released. When energized, the servo assembly effects disconnection of the two pieces to cause free wheeling of the manual actuator, thereby disabling the latch release mechanism. The servo assembly includes an operating rod which is also connected to the locking bar so that, simultaneously, with disabling of the latch release mechanism, the locking lever places the latch-lock mechanism in a locked condition. However, the servo assembly may be energized in an opposite direction by a remote manual control device to unlock the latch lock mechanism without disabling the inner latch actuator. This is accomplished by utilizing a servo assembly in which the inner latch release lever and the locking bar are operated simultaneously in one direction of operation of the servo assembly, but in which the lock bar is operated independently of the latch release lever in a second direction of operation of the servo assembly.

In one form this unique movement is accomplished by utilizing a two piece operating rod on the servo assembly in which the two parts of the operating rod have a lost motion connection between them. In another form of the invention, the servo assembly comprises a double acting primary servo unit and a secondary, auxiliary or slave servo unit which is energized together with the primary unit when the primary unit is energized in one direction, but which is independent of the primary unit when the primary unit is energized in the opposite direction.

In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, the servo units may be either of a diaphragm or other movable wall type fluid actuated variety or they may be solenoid type electrically energized servo units.

FIG. 1 illustrates a vacum-operated type of system. The door locking system is installed in a vehicle having an engine 12 with the usual intake manifold 14. A vacuum tank 16 may be coupled to the manifold 14 by conduits 18 and 20. A check valve 22 is interposed between conduit 18 and vacuum tank 16. As is well known in the art, vacuum tank 16 will be evacuated during periods of high manifold vacuum and this vacuum will be retained within the tank due to the conventional operation of check valve 22 during periods of low manifold vacuum. Vacuum is supplied to each of the servo units 24 mounted at the door latch lock mechanisms through a remote or central distributor valve 26 which may be of any suitable type as, for example, that shown in Patent No. 3,039,555 to R. J. Oshei and W. C. Riester, dated June 19, 1962, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

Vacuum may be supplied to actuate the central distributor valve through a gearshift operated valve 28 or other suitable sensing type valves to detect vehicle operation. The gearshift lever operated valve 28 is illustrated by way of example. Another example would be the motion detecting device illustrated in Patent No. 3,042,135 by William C. Riester, issued July 3, 1962, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. In the illustrated example, vacuum is supplied from the manifold 14 through conduit 20, T 20', conduit 30, gearshift valve 28, conduit 32, T 34 to the locking section 36 of the central distributor or remote volve 26. The gearshift lever operated valve 28 opens when the vehicle is put in any drive position, thereby actuating the remote valve to permit vacuum to fiow from manifold 14 through conduit 20, T 20', conduit 18, either directly to conduit 38 through check valve 22 or from storage tank 16 through check valve 22 to conduit 38. With the locking section 36 of the central distributor valve 26 actuated to open position, conduit 38 is placed in communication with a plurality of conduits 40 leading to the locking side of the servo valve assembly 24. A remote manual actuator valve 42 is also provided for both locking and unlocking operations. Vacuum is applied from the conduit 38 through T 44 and conduit 46 to the inlet port 45 of the remote manual actuator valve 42. A pair of outlet ports 46 and 48 are provided in the remote manual actuator 42, port 46' communicating with the locking side 36 of the remote or central distributor valve 26. The port 48 communicates through a conduit 48 with the unlocking section 36' of the central distributor valve 26. When the manual actuator 42 is operated to connect the inlet port 45 with the outlet port 46, the central distributor valve 26 is operated, opening the locking section 36, and communication is effected between the vacuum source and the servo assembly 24 through the same path as when the gearshift lever 28 is placed in drive position. When the outlet port 48 of the manual actuator valve 42 is placed in communication with the inlet port, a plurality of conduits 50 going to the unlocking side 36' of the servo assembly 24 are placed in communication with the conduit 38 through the manifold portion of the central distributor valve 26. The latch lock mechanism 52 on each door may be operated in a number of ways as, for example, by an inner actuator 54, a push button 56, a key cylinder 58, or an outside actuator as will be hereir1- after explained.

The door latch assembly 52 (FIGS. 5 and 6) comprises essentially a base plate 62, a locking bar 64, an outer latch releasing lever 66, an arresting pawl 68, a latch bolt 70, and an inner latch releasing lever 72.

A cover plate 74 is provided which, in combination with the base plate 62, forms a housing for the door latch assembly. The latch bolt is pivotally mounted on a pin 76 extending between base plate 62 and cover plate 74. The latch bolt is engageable with a striker (not shown) on the door post. When the door is closing, the striker will cause the latch bolt 70 to pivot against the bias of the spring 78. The striker engages in the notch 80 of the latching bolt 70. The latching bolt 70 includes ratchet teeth 82 and 84. When the door is closed, the tooth 67 of the arresting pawl 68 drops into engagement with the ratchet tooth 84 under the urge of a spring 85. The ratchet tooth 82 forms a safety stop which constitutes a second latching position should the door fail to be closed completely or should it accidentally be partially opened. The'arresting pawl 68 is pivotally mounted on a pin 86. The arresting pawl 68 has an edge 88 for engagement with a lug 90 on the outer release lever 66 and an edge 92 for engagement with the inner release lever 72. When the latch is unlocked, movement of either the outer release lever 66 or the inner release lever 72 will cause clockwise movement of the arresting pawl 68 against the urge of spring 85 and the pawl will be retracted from engagement with the ratchet teeth 82 and 84, subject to return under spring urge when released. This will release the latching bolt 70- Which will move to the FIG. 5 open or unlatched position under urge of spring 78. A flange 94 on the base plate 62 forms a limiting stop for the latching bolt 70. The outer release lever assembly 66 includes a bell crank operating lever 66' and a release lever 66".

The operating lever 66 has a bearing face 96 depressible by a pin 98 which is actuated against the urge of a spring 100 and by the exterior door handle or button, not shown. The operating lever 66' is pivoted at 102. The bearing face 96 extends from one arm thereof. The other arm is swingably secured to the release lever 66' by a lug 104 in an opening 106. The release lever 66" has a guide slot 108 which receievs an upturned lug 110 on the lock bar 64. The lock bar 64 is pivotally mounted on the base plate 62 by a pin 112. An over-center spring 113 maintains the lock bar in one or the other of its extreme positions. The motion of lock bar 64 about the pin 112 swings the outer release lever 66" relative to the operating lever 66 of the outer release lever assembly 66. Unless the lock bar 64 is properly positioned as by a key inserted in the usual tumbler lock (not shown) or by the window button, the door cannot be unlatched from without because the lug 90 of the outer release lever 66" is swung to a position where it cannot engage the edge 88 of the arresting pawl 68. Thus, locking from outside is accomplished by moving the locking bar 64 clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 5 which in turn swings the outer release lever clockwise relative to the operating lever 66'. When the operating lever 66' is actuated, the outer release lever 66" is guided in substantially axial movement by the lug 110 on the lock bar 64.

The inner release lever assembly 72 comprises a primary lever 72' and a secondary lever 72 pivoted to each other and to an upstanding ear 114 about a pin 116. The secondary lever 72" includes shoulder 118 which engages edge 92 of arresting pawl 68. An opening 120 of primary lever 72 is in alignment with a shoulder portion 122 on secondary lever 72" and a controllable pin 124 is provided for operating the primary and secondary levers together in a clockwise direction so that operation of the primary lever will cause release of the arresting pawl from the latching bolt in a manner to be hereinafter explained. An inner door handle 54 through linkage 55 operates the inner release lever assembly 72.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5 a pneumatically operating double acting servo unit 24 is mounted on an upstanding flange 126 of the base plate 62.

An example of the type of servo unit 24 employed in this invention is shown most clearly in FIG. 2. It comprises a pair of cup-shaped housing members 128a and 128i) disposed with their open ends in opposition separated by a diaphragm 130 to form a pair of expansible chambers 132a and 1321). The housing members 128a and 128k each include a nipple 134a and 134b, respectively, communicating with the interior of the compartments 132a and 132b, respectively. The diaphragm 130 may be of rubber-like or other elastomeric or flexible material and includes an annular lip circumscribing its periphery with annular grooves 138 on opposite sides of the diaphragm for retaining the flanged peripheral edge 140 of the housing members 128a and 128b in sealing engagement. Adjacent its periphery the diaphragm has an undulating portion 142 to render it double acting or movable in two directions from its neutral position. A pair of plates 144 of rigid material are disposed centrally on opposite sides of the diaphragm. An operating rod 146 extends centrally through the plates 144 and the diaphragm 130. The actuating rod 146 is retained in position by clamping means 148 as, for example, a headed end and a screw cooperable therewith. The clamping means serves to retain the operating rod 146 in position and also to retain the plates 144 in position. A coil spring 150 is disposed centrally between the closed end of housing member 128a and the rigid plate 144 in the compartment 132a to bias the diaphragm to its neutral position. A bracket 152 is provided on one of the housing members 128 centrally thereof and is retained in a sliding, sealing engagement therewith by a grommet 154 of elastomeric material.

The specific operating rod 146a employed in the FIG. 5 embodiment and best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 includes a sidewardly extending lug 156 for engagement in a slot 158 on an extension 64' of lock bar 64. The slot is elongated so as to provide a lost motion connection between the operating rod 146a and the lock bar extension 64. The operating rod 146a at its free end has a flange 160 with an aperture which receives a headed pin 162. A spring 164 is provided between a flange 166 on the pin 162 and the flange 160 on the operating rod 146a to thereby bias the pin 162 outwardly. The pin 162 extends through opening 120 of primary lever 72' and is engageable with shoulder 122 on secondary lever member 72". The pin is movable from the position engaging shoulder 122 to a withdrawn position out of engagement with shoulder 122. It can be seen that both the pin 162 and the extension 64 of lock bar 64 have a lost motion connection with the operating rod 146a. When the pin 162 engages shoulder 122 of the secondary lever 72', the primary and secondary levers move together in a clockwise direction. Thus, actuation of the primary lever 72 will cause the shoulder 118 of the secondary lever 72" to engage the edge 92 of the arresting pawl 68, thus causing clockwise movement of the arresting pawl against the bias of spring 85, resulting in opening of the latch bolt 70. When the pin 162 is out of engagement with the shoulder 122 of the secondary lever 72', the inner release lever 72 free wheels and the doors cannot be unlatched from the inside.

The operation of the device should now be apparent. When vacuum is applied to the compartment 132a of the servo unit 24, the operating rod, by engagement of the lug 156 with the inner edge of the slot 158, moves the locking bar to lock position resulting in locking from the outside. At the same time, the pin 162 is withdrawn from engagement with the shoulder 122 of the secondary lever 72", causing locking from the inside. When the compartment 132a is vented to atmosphere, the servo unit assumes its neutral position with the pin 162 in engagement with the shoulder 122 of secondary lever 72". This is permitted by the lost motion connection between the lug 156 and the lock bar 64. Now, when vacuum is applied to the compartment 132b, the lock bar 64 is moved to the unlock position permitting the door to be opened from the outside. Operating rod 146a moves the lock bar 64 independently of the pin 162 because of the lost motion connection between the operating rod 146a and the pin 162.

Under driving conditions, valving is provided either through a gearshift lever valve or a motion detecting device to apply vacuum either from the manifold or the storage tank to the compartment 132a, thus locking all the doors from the outside and inside whenever the car is in motion, but venting compartment 132a whenever the car is stopped. Thus the doors remain locked from the outside when the car is stopped, but can be opened from the inside. If it is desired to remotely unlock the outside doors, a manual control valve or valves for each door can be operated to apply vacuum to compartment 132b, thereby extending operating rod 146a and moving locking bar 64 to the unlock position.

Another embodiment of the invention is disclosed in FIG. 6. The latch lock structure of the FIG. 6 embodiment is identical with that shown in FIG. 5. However, a modified servo assembly is employed which comprises a primary double acting servo unit 24' and a secondary servo unit 24". The primary servo unit 24' differs from the servo unit of the FIG. 5 embodiment only in that a second nipple 134' is provided on the housing section 128a which encloses compartment 132a and the second nipple 134 is connected by a conduit 176 to the secondary or slave servo unit 24". The secondary servo unit 24" comprises a cup-shaped housing 128 having a flanged periphery at its open end and a nipple 178 communicating with the interior of housing 128'. A diaphragm 142' has its peripheral edge sandwiched between the flange 130' and a closure plate 72a formed by an enlarged end portion of the primary lever 72. A pin 184 is secured to the diaphragm 142 and movable therewith. The primary lever 72' has an ear 180 extending from the enlarged portion 72a forming a yoke which receives the secondary lever 72" therein. The car 180 includes an opening 120' in alignment with the pin 184 of the secondary servo unit 24". This can best be seen in FIG. 4. The pin 184 extends through the opening 120 on ear 180 of the inner release lever 72. and is engageable with the shoulder 122 on the secondary release lever 72". When vacuum is applied through nipple 178 to the housing 128', the pin is withdrawn from the opening 120 to disengage primary lever member 72' and secondary lever 72". The operating rod 146 of the primary servo unit 24' engages a lug 186 on the extension 64 of the locking bar 64. When vacuum is applied to the compartment 132a, the diaphragm 142 is moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 2, drawing the operating rod 146' with it to move the locking bar 64 to locking position. Simultaneously, vacuum is applied to the housing 128 to effect withdrawal of the pin 184 from the opening 120 and the primary lever 72.

When vacuum is applied to compartment 132!) and when compartment 132a is vented, the diaphragm of the primary servo unit 24 moves to the right, as seen in FIG. 2, causing unlocking of locking bar 64. At the same time, housing 128' of secondary servo unit 24" is vented, thereby returning the diaphragm of the secondary servo unit 24" to a neutral position and thus returning the pin 184 to a position in engagement with the opening 120 on the ear of the primary lever 72. This places the latch in an unlocked condition for opening from either the inside or the outside. If after applying vacuum to compartment 132a of primary servo unit 24 the compartment 132a is then vented, housing 128' of secondary servo unit 24" is also vented. This returns the diaphragm servo unit 24" to a neutral position, thereby permitting unlatching from the inside. Because the servo unit 24- is neutralized, the unit has insufficient power to overcome the frictional forces of the latch lock components. The locking bar 64 therefore remains in a locked condition, thus preventing unlatching from the outside.

Although a system has been described utilizing vacuum operated servo units, it will of course be apparent that by reversing the position of the nipples in the servo units, air pressure can be utilized to actuate the system. It is also possible in accordance with the broader aspects of this invention to substitute solenoid servo units for the pneumatically operated servo units described hereinabove. By employing a reversible servo unit with an armature secured to a lost motion connected actuating rod, as in the FIG. embodiment, the same results may be obtained. Likewise, solenoid units can be utilized in place of the pneumatically operated units illustrated in FIG. 6.

An example of a solenoid operated system is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 7 wherein a steering column shift lever switch 228 is provided having stationary contacts 228a and 22% in the drive positions and a movable contactor 228c in synchronism with the shift lever. Battery 213 is utilized for a source of power and parallel circuits to the solenoid coil for energizing it in one direction are provided through the gear-shift lever switch 228 and through a manual switch 248. The manual switch 248 may be mounted on the dash of a vehicle or in any suitable position within the operators reach. It may be a self-centering single pole, double throw switch, self-centered in the olf position. A circuit is provided from the battery through the solenoids 224 for energizing the solenoid servo unit in an opposite direction. The solenoid servo units 224 each comprise a pair of solenoid coils 232a and 2321) connected to be energized in opposite directions. An armature 242 is provided and maintained in a neutral position by springs 250a and 25Gb when the solenoid coils 232a and 232b are not energized. An operating rod 246 is provided which may be identical with operating rod 146 of the pneumatic servo unit 24. When the solenoid coil 232a is energized, the rod is withdrawn to effect locking from the inside and outside, as in FIG. 5, through the lost motion operating rod 246. When the solenoid coil 23217 is energized, the operating rod is projected to effect unlocking. The solenoid servo units 224 may be mounted on flange 126 of the lock base plate 62 in the same manner as the pneumatically operated servo units 24,

It can be seen that a unique automatic locking system has been provided in which the inner manual latch operating mechanism is disabled incidental to placing the vehicle in motion, but which automatically enables the door to be unlocked from the inside when the vehicle is at a standstill. In this condition the doors remain locked from the outside. With the same servo units it is possible by remote control to manually unlock the door for entry from the exterior. This provides an extremely safe automatic locking system which assures that the doors are exteriorly locked at all times to prevent intrusion. The doors are also less likely to fly open in the locked position in case of collision and this automatic system assures that the latches are in a locked condition. It is also desirable to be able to open the doors from the inside at all times when the vehicle is stopped where in case of accident it is essential that the occupants can emerge from the car. The remote manual unlocking feature for exterior entry provides a convenience for the vehicle operator.

Although certain embodiments of the invention have been shown and described for the purpose of illustration, it will of course be apparent that in its broader aspects, various modifications and other modifications are ossible within the scope of the invention. It is to be under stood therefore that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangement shown, but in its broadest aspects it includes all equivalent embodiments and modifications which come within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a latch-lock assembly for motor vehicles comprising a keeper for latching said latch-lock assembly and locking means for'preventing unlatching of said latch-lock assembly; the combination comprising a two piece operating lever having a first lever member and a second lever member mounted for pivotal movement relative to said first lever member, said second lever member being operative to release said keeper, connecting means for securing said first and second lever members together for conjoint movement, a manual operator for actuating said first lever member, a servo assembly integrated with the latch-lock assembly responsive to placing the vehicle in motion for simultaneously causing said connecting means to disconnect said first and second lever members and to lock said latch mechanism and to cause said connecting means to secure said first and second lever mem bers together during another condition of vehicle operation, said servo assembly including means operable independent of said connecting means responsive to remote manual actuation for causing said locking means to unlock said latch-lock assembly.

2. In a latch-lock assembly for motor vehicles comprising a keeper for latching said latch-lock assembly and locking means for preventing unlatching of said latch-lock assembly; the combination comprising a servo assembly including a primary double acting servo unit and a secondary servo unit, said primary and secondary servo units being operatively connected for simultaneous operation in one direction of movement of said primary double acting servo unit, but independent of each other in a second direction of movement; a two piece latch operating lever having a first lever member and a second lever member, said second lever member being operative to release said keeper, said primary servo unit being disposed to operate said locking means, said secondary servo unit disposed for securing said first and Second lever members together for conjoint movement and to disconnect said first and second lever members when actuated, a manual operator for actuating said first lever member, said servo assembly being operatively integrated with said latch-lock assembly and responsive to one condition of vehicle operation for movement in said one direction thereby simultaneously causing said secondary servo unit to effect disconnection of said first and second lever members and to cause said primary servo unit to lock said latch-lock mechanism, said servo assembly being responsive to a second condition of operation for neutralizing said primary and secondary servo units to thereby cause said auxiliary servo unit to secure said first and second lever members together, said servo assembly being responsive to remote operator means for causing said primary servo unit to move in said second direction to thereby cause said locking means to unlock said latchlock assembly.

3. In a latch-lock assembly for motor vehicles comprising a keeper for latching said latch-lock assembly and locking means for preventing unlatching of said latchlock assembly; the combination comprising a servo assembly including a double acting servo unit having a primary operating rod, a secondary operating rod, said primary and secondary operating rods being operatively connected for simultaneously operation in one direction of movement of said double acting servo unit but being independent of each other in a second direction of movement, a two piece operating lever having a first lever member and a second lever member, said second lever member being operative to release said keeper, said primary operating rod being disposed to operate said locking means, said secondary opening rod being disposed for securing said first and second lever members together for conjoint movement and to disconnect said first and second lever members when said double acting servo unit is actuated in said one direction, a manual actuator for actuating said first lever member, said servo assem bly being operatively integrated with said latch-lock assembly and responsive to one condition of vehicle operation for movement in said one direction thereby simultaneously causing said secondary operating rod to effect disconnection of said first and second lever members to cause said primary operating rod to lock said latch-lock mechanism, said servo assembly being responsive to a second condition of operation for neutralizing said double acting servo unit to thereby cause said secondary operating rod to secure said first and second lever members together, said servo assembly being responsive to remote operator means for causing said double acting servo unit to move in said second direction to thereby cause said locking means to unlock said latch-lock assembly.

4. In a latch-lock assembly for motor vehicles comprising a keeper for latching said latch-lock assembly and locking means for preventing unlatching of said latchlock assembly; the combination comprising a servo assembly including a double acting servo unit having a lock actuator, a latch release actuator, said lock actuator and latch release actuator being operatively connected for simultaneous operation in one direction of movement of said double acting servo unit but being independent of each other in a second direction of movement, a two piece operating lever having a first lever member and a second lever member, said second lever member being operative to release said keeper, said lock actuator being disposed to operate said locking means, said latch release actuator being disposed for securing said first and second lever members together for conjoint movement and to disconnect said first and second lever members when said double acting servo unit is actuated in said one direction, a manual actuator for actuating said first lever member, said servo assembly being operatively integrated with said latch-lock assembly and responsive to one condition of vehicle operation for movement in said one direction thereby simultaneously causing said latch release actuator to effect disconnection of said first and second lever members and to cause said lock actuator to lock said latch-lock mechanism, said servo assembly being responsive to a second condition of operation for neutralizing said double acting servo unit to thereby cause said latch release actuator to secure said first and second lever members together, said servo assembly being responsive to remote operator means for causing said double acting servo unit to move in said second direction to thereby cause said locking means to unlock said latch-lock assembly.

5. In a latch-lock assembly for motor vehicles comprising a keeper for latching said latch-lock assembly and locking means for preventing unlatching of said latch-lock assembly; the combination comprising a two piece operating lever having a first lever member and a second lever member mounted for pivotal movement relative to said first lever member, said second lever member being operative to release said keeper, connecting means for securing said first and second lever mem bers together for conjoint movement, a manual operator for actuating said first lever member, a servo assembly including a double acting, fluid operated servo unit comprising a chamber having a movable wall separating said chamber into first and second compartments, means for biasing said servo unit to a neutral position in one condition of vehicle operation, an operating rod assembly operatively connected to said movable wall comprising first and second rod members, a lost motion connection between said first and second rod members, a source of fluid pressure, first control means for said source of fluid pressure responsive to a second condition of vehicle operation for actuating said movable wall and said operating rod assembly in one direction to cause said rod assembly to actuate said locking means to locked position and to disconnect said first and second lever members, said first and second lever members being connected when said servo unit is in a neutral position, and second control means for said fluid pressure source for actuating said mova ble wall and said first rod member in a second direction to efiect unlocking of said latch lock.

6. In a latch-lock assembly for motor vehicles comprising a keeper for latching said latch-lock assembly and locking means for preventing unlatching of said latch-lock assembly; the combination comprising a two piece operating lever having a first lever member and a second lever member mounted for pivotal movement relative to said first lever member, said second lever member being operative to release said keeper, connecting means for securing said first and second lever members together for conjoint movement, a manual operator for actuating said first lever member, a servo assembly including a double acting solenoid including an operating rod assembly, means for biasing said operating rod assembly to a neutral position when said solenoid is unenergized in one condition of vehicle operation, said operating rod assembly comprising first and second rod members, a lost motion connection between said first and second rod members, a power source, first control means for said power source responsive to a second condition of vehicle operation for energizing said solenoid in one direction to cause said rod assembly to actuate said locking means to locked position and to disi connect said first and second lever members, said first and second lever members being connected when said rod assembly is in a neutral position with said solenoid unenergized and second control means for said energy source for energizing said solenoid in a second direction for actuating said first rod member in a second direction to efiect unlocking of said latch lock.

7. In a latch-lock assembly for motor vehicles comprising a keeper for latching said latch-lock assembly and locking means for preventing unlatching of said latch-lock assembly; the combination comprising a servo assembly including a primary double acting solenoid and a secondary solenoid, said primary and secondary solenoids being operatively connected for simultaneous operation when said primary solenoid is energized in one direction, but independent of each other when said primary solenoid is energized in a second direction; a two piece latch operating lever having a first lever member and a second lever member, said second lever member being operative to release said keeper, said primary solenoid being disposed to operate said locking means, said secondary solenoid disposed for securing said first and second lever members together for conjoint movement and to disconnect said first and second lever members when actuated, a manual operator for actuating said first lever member, said servo assembly being operatively integrated with said latch-lock assembly and responsive to one condition of vehicle operation for movement in said one direction thereby simultaneously causing said secondary solenoid to effect disconnection of said first and second lever members and to cause said primary solenoid to lock said latch-lock mechanism, said servo assembly being responsive to a second condition of operation for neutralizing said primary and secondary solenoids to thereby cause said auxiliary solenoid to secure said first 12 and second lever members together, said servo assembly being responsive to remote operator means for causing said primary solenoid to move in said second direction to thereby cause said locking means to unlock said latchlock assembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,959,238 11/1960 Dyer et al. 18082 3,168,931 2/1965 Oishei l8082 3,279,227 10/1966 Kawa-be 70264 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner ROBERT L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner PAW) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent NO- 3,466, 905 Dated September 16, 1969 Inven RAYMOND A- DEIBEL et al It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent. are hereby corrected as shown below:

:01. 1, line 16 "mannual" should read -manual.

Col. 3, line 71, "volve" should read -valve-. Col. 4, line 71., "lever 66' should read --lever 66". C01. 5, line 3, "lever 66"" should read --lever 66'.

C01. 9, line 16, "simultaneously"should read -simultaneous.

line 23, "opening should read --operating.

SIGNED AND SEALED JUL 2 8 $78 zv'nr'f r i $EAL) Atteat:

Edward m mach", Ir. "MIMI m. .m. 00ml Atmtmg Officer mm 

